Patrick Roberts reflects on his partnership with Amad Diallo and working under Tony Mowbray at Sunderland
Patrick Roberts believes his partnership with Amad Diallo will always be remembered fondly by Sunderland supporters - and admits he has rarely experienced anything like it.
The duo lit up Sunderland’s first Championship season after promotion from League One, helping restore a sense of fun and freedom around the Stadium of Light. Under Tony Mowbray, the Black Cats played with energy and expression, and Roberts and Diallo became the creative heartbeat of the side.
Roberts provided the balance and intelligence; Diallo the unpredictability and flair. Together, they gave Wearside a glimpse of what the Championship could look like when talent is allowed to breathe. When asked what it was like working under Mowbray - who once described Roberts as one of the best attacking players in the Championship - the winger was clear about the impact the former Sunderland head coach had.
“Tony was great,” Roberts said when asked about Mowbray and the comparisons to current Sunderland head coach Régis Le Bris. “They’re very different in their sense, but it’s the same as an attacking player. They just want you to be fluid and exciting. They want to see exciting players on the pitch. Totally different kind of people, but the same idea in terms of football.
“They just want you to go out there and enjoy your football. I think for any attacking player, to have the confidence of the manager is great. Especially as a young player. There were a lot of young players and he was great with them. I think it fills you with confidence. I always have self-confidence in myself anyway, but for a manager to keep having trust in you is the most important thing. When the manager trusts you, it gives you the confidence to go out and perform. They’re both great with me. Both different in their own way, but both held in high regard.”
That freedom and trust helped unlock a partnership that many Sunderland fans believe will go down in modern club folklore. The connection between Roberts and Diallo felt almost telepathic at times - two wide players drifting inside, interchanging positions and tearing defences apart.
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“I don't think so, no,” Roberts said when asked if he had experienced anything similar before. “Not in the way Amad has. It’s strange to explain. We weren't the greatest of friends. Obviously we got on, but on the pitch he just had the same brain. It’s hard to explain, but when I do something, I think of what the other players should be doing. I think he was on the same wavelength.
“On the pitch it looked quite easy, but it’s tough because you need to know what the next player is after that. We’d be on that same wavelength and he'd do things that I’d expect myself to do and vice versa. That’s why it worked. At the same time, I’d let him do what he needed to do and maybe help out a bit more defensively. We just worked that way. If he drifted out, I’d come inside. If I was out wide, he’d be inside.
“We’d just work off each other. There wasn’t much thought. It was off the cuff. When you're on the same wavelength, football becomes really easy. It’s a simple game, 11 v 11 on a pitch. If you make the right decisions, that’s the key to anything. I’ve not really had that anywhere else, but he’s a great player. You see what he’s doing now. He’s gone on to do amazing things and I’m sure there’ll be many more like that.”
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